Adrienne young delivers another atmospheric novel with a touch of magic realism. I enjoyed the murder mystery in this and there were several twists I didn’t see coming. This was similar in vibes to her novel, Spells for Forgetting, so if you enjoyed that, you will probably enjoy this as well. My only complaint about the writing is that it is told in a way that the reader is only getting snippets of this side past story and there is a lot of alluding to things. It made me feel like the main character knew more than me. I don’t think it was necessary to drag out the side past story in order to keep the “mystery” aspect. Overall, this is a very quick read that I enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another great book by Adrienne Young. She’s an author whose books I’ll read no matter the subject, because I know I will love it regardless. I know she always delivers, and this book is no exception.

The story took a little while to get going, but only because Young was bringing the reader to date with all that had occurred prior to the current situation. Her character and worldbuilding are done so well, by the time the story took off, you felt as if you knew the characters and location very well.

This small town murder mystery which explores relationships old and new is such a good read. As is always the case with her books, once I started reading, I couldn’t stop, finishing the book in just over a day. If only life wouldn’t get in the way!

Highly recommend this as well as all of her books. So good!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for sending me an advanced copy of this book.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

I really liked the pacing and the mystery though it did seem to take a while to get all of the pieces to start making any sense. The characters all seemed to have some sort of sense of mystery about them. I also really like this author’s writing and will continue to read her books.

Would recommend.

Adrienne Young continues to produce the most atmospheric and hauntingly beautiful novels that I have ever read. If you enjoyed her other adult novels, particularly Spells for Forgetting, this will satisfy you fully. She has an incredible ability to weave an intricate narrative while creating complex yet relatable characters.

The story had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was happening. What is the truth? Who is involved? What is at play here other than the characters? I would not call it a mystery, but there is always something to be solved - a who dunnit - and she masters the craft of keeping things moving, dropping hints, but keeping the truth just out of reach, just like her other adult novels.

In this novel, the main character's (James) twin brother (Johnny) died, but she doesn't believe the story. Naturally, she goes home where she hasn't gone in ten years to get answers. But she also has to face her past, the reasons she left, and the people she abandoned. In trying to unravel the truth about Johnny's death, she discovers another mystery connected to Johnny and embarks on solving them both.

If you're an empath, you are going to feel a lot of things deeply. This book has so much heart and depth. I read A Sea of Unspoken Things in one day -- I couldn't stop.

Adrienne Young has been an "insta-buy" author for me since Fable, and she continues to prove that she's earned that spot for me. Her move into adult novels set loose something that I hope never goes away.

First off want to say Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for the eARC of this book. I did not want to put this down at all!! I was hooked within the first chapter. The way Adrienne is able to write this story so that I fell into the story so easy amazed me. The battle of emotions I felt right along side James - the amazing twists and turns this books took me on. Start your year of reading off by adding this to you TBR - publish date is 1/7/25 and I highly reccomend.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC! I recently started reading Adrienne’s books, and not only are the covers always stunning, but you can guarantee she will paint a beautiful, atmospheric picture with her descriptive settings and beautiful prose. A Sea of Unspoken Things delivers on that and then some. She also truly delivers on the murder mystery this time, crafting a story that felt like you might hear in the news, with twists and turns and a true who done it.

I have personally always been fascinated by twins and their inexplicable connections, so that aspect of the story definitely drew me in. At first I was disappointed that we don’t really ever see Johnny on the page, but that ultimately lends more to the mystery behind him since we only see him through the eyes of his twin sister, James. This is a story of how well you really know someone, and features a cast of characters that you can find suspicious. And as James begins to unravel the story behind her brother’s death, more mysteries present themselves until James and Micah are truly questioning everything they ever thought they knew about Johnny. And just as they think they have wrapped it all up, Johnny lets her know there is more to unfold. It is a story of siblings, first loves, and where you belong. I read it in one sitting.

Rarely have I seen a book so aptly titled! The story is the exploration of things unsaid between a brother and a sister and the impact it has once of them dies. The set up is very gloomy and eerie, and I did like the plot twists at the end.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the opportunity to review A Sea of Unspoken Things.

Following a call that her twin brother was fatally shot in a hunting accident, James reluctantly returns to her logging hometown of Six Rivers after 20 years to look more deeply into the events surrounding his death. During the process she confronts the memories of her youth, including uncovering secrets and facing the ghosts of her past. James has an uncanny connection with her lost twin that is both lovely and heartbreaking. The relationship between James and Micah, her high school love, is powerful and peaceful at the same time. Both of them are struggling with their relationship with Johnny; how it impacted their past dynamic and its lingering effects on their current relationship.

I love Adrienne Young as an author because her writing is mysterious and magical with complex and interesting characters. This story is a beautifully written, haunting, twisty and atmospheric small town mystery about loss, second chances and forgiveness.

After a bit of a slower start, this novel was so suspenseful and intriguing! I couldn’t put it down…I had to know what happened.

James and Johnny Golden were twins with a deep connection. When Johnny is killed, James is afraid that his death wasn’t an accident, and begins a quest to figure out the truth.

I found all the main characters very captivating. The connection between James and Johnny and the supernatural elements of the story kept me wanting more. Micah was mysterious and so real. Even the supporting characters were well developed and small details were woven into the plot that came into play later on. The twists were well done and some were unexpected.

This one is definitely worth the read if you enjoy suspenseful thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press/Random House for providing me with an ARC to read and review.

I absolutely adore Adrienne Young's writing, but this one started a little slow it didn't really grab me until the last 15-20%. I wanted to love it as much as I loved June Farrow but I just didn't. I wish there was more with James ans Johnny's "twin telepathy"! I still highly recommend this book, the twists and turns had me all over the place and never knowing who to trust!

So thankful for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
I loved this book from the very beginning but I have to admit I’m a tad bias because the Redwoods hold a piece of my heart. I loved the detailed descriptions of the small town and I could picture it all perfectly in my mind. I’m also a sucker for a little bit of magic, and magic is what is connecting James to her recently deceased brother, Johnny. I’ll be honest tho, I wanted just a little bit more from that aspect!
The story keeps you interested as James navigates grief while exploring the possibility that she might not have really known her brother anymore, or maybe, ever? This books weaves together several possible outcomes until the truth finally comes to light.

It’s a mystery, a love story and has a satisfying ending. What more could you ask for!

I have read every book that Adrienne Young has ever published. I have loved all of them, but this is among my top favorites from her. This was such an emotional book and had a pretty heavy undertone throughout the whole story.

James is returning home after the accidental death of her brother, Johnny. She's returning home many years after leaving to go to school and leave some other things behind, including a man named Micah.

It's upon her return that James realizes there is more going on in this little rural town of Hawthorne, California, that she realizes this connection she had to James is continuing to show her things that she can't ignore.

Thus begins a search to find out what really happened - was it truly an accident or was there something else going on?

I struggled to put this book down. I connected immediately with Jame's character and her journey through grief and heartache. It just resonated on such a deep level that I had to keep reading to see how it would all end for her.

I can't wait to see what else Adrienne comes up with. I'll always read her books!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoyed A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young.The writing is beautifully moody, and the gradual unfolding of secrets kept me intrigued throughout .The story’s blend of mystery and emotion pulled me in, as James Golden returns to her hometown to uncover the truth about her twin brother Johnny’s death. Young captures the eerie beauty of the redwood forest setting, making it almost feel alive. The suspense builds slowly but effectively, keeping me invested as secrets unfold. This novel is perfect for readers who love atmospheric, character-driven stories with a touch of the supernatural. It’s haunting, beautifully written, and left a lasting impression.

3.5 ⭐️

I’m a bit conflicted with how I feel about this book. I was immediately hooked from the beginning and found the story intriguing but as it went on it started to feel a bit repetitive. The plot dissected into a handful of different storylines to where I felt like there was too much going on at the same time. I do think the pacing was great and it didn’t feel like it dragged on at all. It was creepy and gave me goosebumps which is what you want from a mystery.

Over all I had a fun time, and although I didn’t absolutely love it, I couldn’t put it down. I think Adrienne Young is extremely talented, her writing is so captivating and atmospheric so I look forward to picking up her other novels!

For me this one was a little slower going then Adrienne Young previous book. While this did still have somewhat of a mystical aspect to, exploring the aspects of identitical twins and what people presume are the links between them. We find that our main character is heading back to her home town after finding out about the death of her identical twin Johnny. James, who is our female main character, has not been home for 20 years. She has not talked to her brother as much and does not really want to come back. She left to go to college and after the events that took place before she left her art career has been her escape for Six Rivers. But she doesn’t think that her brothers death was accidental so we see her go down the path to investigate this. We also se her seee him here and there as well. Is this her imagination? Is this the part of her being a twin? Has part of him been left behind after his death? What happened out there in the Forrest?
Overall I did like the story in the end. It began pretty slow for me. It did not captivate me like the authors previous book, which still remains my absolute favorite. But by the mid point I was hooked and needed to know what happened in the end. Overall I enjoy Adrienne Young’s writing style and story telling. Though this is more in the mystery category there is a underlying love story to it too but it flys under the radar. I am interested to see where the author takes us next!

This is my first Adrienne Young read since reading the Fable duology, and I really enjoyed it! While the title and cover may suggest this takes place somewhere coastal, it actually takes place in a town in the middle of the California redwoods and the setting was incredibly atmospheric and felt very fall to me (the title actually refers to something a character says in the book). This book is definitely more mystery/thriller than fantasy, and I really liked the spooky vibes and the twisty plot. While the pace may be a little slower than your typical thriller, I think it was a perfect pace for this story and I felt engaged the whole time. I really had a great time reading this book, and I really want to read more of Young’s backlist!

There is some foul language, but not an overwhelming amount. There is a romance subplot, but it stays closed door. Trigger warning for grieving the death of a close friend/sibling.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House for sending me an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions above are my own.

Over a four but not quite a five. Layered with lots of things thrown in and I couldn’t put it down. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Another well written, extremely atmospheric mystery from Adrienne Young. I love the style of her books - this one reminded me a lot of Spells for Forgetting. I loved that the town felt like a character in the story, and the magical realism element added an interesting lens. The mysteries (yes, multiple!) were layered, and while I’m not quite sure how I feel about how the they each wrapped up, I enjoyed this a lot overall.

June Farrow will forever be on my favorites shelf, and while this didn’t quite hit that level for me, I definitely recommend.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this atmospheric mystery. It's slow paced but beautifully written and I enjoyed the underlying plotline. However, it's not a typical thriller - it's more about grief and small town secrets and running away from your past with a mystery thrown in. I thought it was similar in tone to Caroline O'Donoghue's Scenes of a Graphic Nature - mysterious but the mystery is beyond the point. And Adrienne Young's prose is still wonderful.

Oh my goodness this was so GOOD. It’s just the perfect fall winter read! Definitely more of a murder mystery. Not really any crazy magical elements and the romance is definitely the lightest dusting of romance lol

But if you’re wanting something that is truly just a little more suspenseful and “who did it?” This one’s for you! Definitely add this to your winter tbr!!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!